Bobbin-handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for segregating a jumbled mass of bobbins and delivery of the bobbins one at a time in axial orientation. A chain conveyor includes a plurality of buckets for receiving bobbins. These buckets open inwardly and together form the bottom of a hopper which receives the jumbled bobbins. As the conveyor is driven, a bucket receives a bobbin from the hopper and carries the bobbin upwardly along a substantially straight path to a discharge chute at an upper portion of the apparatus. The buckets have a particular cross-sectional configuration so that when they are on the straight upwardly extending path they will retain only one bobbin having a rounded cross section and within a particular range of diameters varying from an empty bobbin core to a full bobbin. If a second bobbin is picked up by a bucket it will drop from the bucket along the straight path and fall back into the hopper. By varying the inclination of the buckets along the straight portion of the path, the range may be varied. A bobbin in the hopper may tend to align itself with its axis parallel to the direction of movement of the buckets and would thus block the buckets from receiving bobbins having their axes transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Such a parallel bobbin flips into position with its axis transverse to the path of the buckets upon movement of an inclined edge of an adjacent bucket against the bobbin in a direction transverse to the general upward path of the buckets. Concurrently with such transverse movement of each bucket, a finger is moved across the inclined edge and transfers any strands of yarn extending across the edge into a cutter. Alternatively, each bucket may be provided with a cutter which is moved across the inclined edge, in lieu of the finger and common cutter. Bobbins are fed into the hopper responsive to a reduction in weight of the bobbins in the hopper and the hopper is driven intermittently to deliver bobbins one at a time responsive to an external demand.

nite States Patent [72] inventor William E. Stoppard Warwick, RJL

[21] App]. No. 847,240

[22] Filed Aug. 4, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Leesona Corporation Warwick, RJ.

[54] BOBBIN-HANDLING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Andres l-l. Nielsen Attorneys-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton ABSTRACT: Apparatus for segregating a jumbled mass of bobbins and delivery of the bobbins one at a time in axial orientation. A chain conveyor includes a plurality of buckets for receiving bobbins. These buckets open inwardly and together form the bottom of a hopper which receives the jumbled bobbins. As the conveyor is driven, a bucket receives a bobbin from the hopper and carries the bobbin upwardly along a substantially straight path to a discharge chute at an upper portion of the apparatus. The buckets have a particular cross-sectional configuration so that when they are on the straight upwardly extending path they will retain only one bobbin having a rounded cross section and within a particular range of diameters varying from an empty bobbin core to a full bobbin. If a second bobbin is picked up by a bucket it will drop from the bucket along the straight path and fall back into the hopper. By varying the inclination of the buckets along the straight portion of the path, the range may be varied. A bobbin in the hopper may tend to align itself with its axis parallel to the direction of movement of the buckets and would thus block the buckets from receiving bobbins having their axes transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Such a parallel bobbin flips into position with its axis transverse to the path of the buckets upon movement of an inclined edge of an adjacent bucket against the bobbin in a direction transverse to the general upward path of the buckets. Concurrently with such transverse movement of each bucket, a finger is moved across the inclined edge and transfers any strands of yarn extending across the edge into a cutter. Alternatively, each bucket may be provided with a cutter which is moved across the inclined edge, in lieu of the finger and common cutter. Bobbins are fed into the hopper responsive to a reduction in weight of the bobbins in the hopper and the hopper is driven intermittently to deliver bobbins one at a time responsive to an external demand.

PATENTEDUEI 1s IBYI 3.613.862

ATTO RN EY PAIENTEDnm 19 IBYI SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. STOPPARD ATTORNEYS BOBBIN-HANDLING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for handling bobbins and, more particularly, to such apparatus for segregating and orienting bobbins.

As used herein the term bobbin" means any core or other member on which yarn may be or is wound so that the yarn may be moved from place to place. The term filled bobbin" means a bobbin having a winding of yarn thereon, whether full or partially full. The term yarn" is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Various attempts at automatically handling bobbins have had little, if any, commercial success. Various proposed machines for automatically orienting filled bobbins have generally' produced rough handling of the bobbins and required some preorientation, such as cording of the bobbins. Part of the difficulty encountered with such attempted apparatus is that of scuffing or otherwise damaging yarn on the filled bobbins, and most orienting equipment is unsuited for handling both full and partially full bobbins which occur from time to time. Another difficulty is that strands of yarn extending from the bobbins may interfere with proper operation of the equipment, may continue to unwind thus wasting yarn, and may become entangled with strands from other bobbins. Still another problem is that when the bobbins are delivered to the orienting equipment in a randomly jumbled condition some of the bobbins may become positioned in the apparatus so as to interfere with proper operation of the equipment.

The invention is, in brief, directed to an automatic apparatus for handling bobbins. A continuous series of bobbin receiving conveyor buckets forms the bottom of a hopper for receiving randomly jumbled bobbins and from which the buckets receive the bobbins. Any bobbins in the hopper which have their axes parallel to the path of movement of the buckets are caused to be positioned with their axes transverse to the path to avoid blocking off a portion of each bucket which could result in failure of the bucket to receive a bobbin from the hopper. Repositioning of such bobbins is accomplished by movement against the bobbin of an edge of an adjacent bucket in a direction inwardly and transversely of a generally upwardly extending path of the buckets. Also, such inward movement of the bucket tends to free from lower buckets strands of yarn extending from the bucket whereupon such strands are severed.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved bobbin-handling apparatus.

Another object is provision of a new and improved bobbinhandling apparatus for severing strands of yarn extending from the bobbins.

A further object is provision of a new and improved apparatus for handling a mass of jumbled bobbins and effectively preventing any of the bobbins from remaining in a position deterring handling of the bobbins. A more specific, related object is provision for effectively preventing the bobbins from remaining in a position axially aligned with the path of movement of bobbin receivers which can only receive bobbins which are substantially transverse to this path of movement,

A more specific object is provision of new and improved bobbin-handling apparatus for segregating randomly jumbled bobbins and delivering the bobbins in an oriented condition, and for correcting detrimental alignment of the jumbled bobbins and severing strands extending from the bobbins.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary schematic sectional view of a lower portion of the apparatus taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, with parts removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4, with parts removed for clearer illustration; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, schematic elevational view of a modification of a strand severing portion of the apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the bobbin-handling apparatus includes a pair of opposed rigid plates providing sidewalls 10 and 12 rigidly secured to each other in any suitable manner as by spacers (not shown) and a retaining wall 14 (dotted lines in FIG. 1). Rigid legs 16 are fixedly secured, one to each of the sidewall 10 and 12, and are anchored on a suitable base 18.

A pair of conveyor chains 20 are mounted on the frame to move, one about each of the edges of the sidewalls I0 and 12. With reference to FIG. 1, at each side the respective chain 20 moves in the direction of an arrow 21 and passes around a driven sprocket 22 fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 24 extending through and joumaled in the sidewalls l0 and 12. From the driven sprocket 22 the chains 20 each depend to lower guide sprockets 26 joumaled on shafts 28 fixed to the respective sidewalls, then pass through upwardly curved chain tracks 30 and through straight upwardly extending chain tracks 32 fixedly secured to the respective sidewalls from which the chains 20 pass about upper guide sprockets 34 journaled on shafts 36 fixed to the respective sidewalls, and back to the respective driven sprockets 22. The chains 20 are driven by a motor 38 mounted on a bracket 40 fixed to the sidewall 10 and the motor carries on its shaft 42 a sprocket (not visible) which receives a drive chain 44 extending around a sprocket (not visible) fixedly secured on the left and of the drive shaft 24.

A plurality of bobbin receiving carriers in the form of buckets 50 each have opposite ends, one secured to each adjacent chain 20 by means of pivots 52, with the pivots of each bucket aligned along an axis perpendicular to the chains 20, and as illustrated along a generally horizontal axis. On one side the pivots 52 are on arms 54 of the buckets which also have arms 55 carrying shafts 55 and thereon rotatably mounted wheels 56 which are received in a channel-shaped wheel track 58 extending about the sidewall 10.

The wheel track 58 has a generally vertical portion 60 and an upper curved portion 62 fixedly secured to the left sidewall 10 in any suitable manner as by mounting plates 64. As is shown and more fully described in US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 842,948 filed July 18, 1969, an adjustable portion 66 of the wheel track 58 is adjustably secured to the adjacent chain track 32 in any suitable manner, for example by upper and lower brackets (not visible) having diagonal, elongated slots for receiving studs extending from the adjacent chain track 32 so that the adjustable track 66 may be moved toward or away from the chain track 32 and may be secured in place by nuts on the studs. An inclined flange 76 extends outwardly from the upper end of a short fixed portion 77 of wheel track 58 and similar flanges 78 extend inwardly and outwardly from the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the adjustable wheel track 66, and another flange (not visible) extends inwardly from the lower adjacent end of the curved wheel track 62, for guiding the wheels 56 onto and off of the adjustable wheel track 66.

A lower curved portion 80 (FIG. 1) of the wheel track 58 is fixedly secured to an arm 82 pivoted as by a pin 84 (FIGS. 2 and 3) at one end to a bracket 86 fixed to the sidewall 10 and supporting the short portion 77 of the wheel track. The other end of the pivoted wheel track arm 82 is supported by a tension spring 88 (FIGS. 2 and 3) secured thereto and to one of the plates 64 which supports the fixed wheel track 60. Bobbins 90 are deposited through an opening 92 in the sidewall 12 and drop in a randomly jumbled condition into a portion of the apparatus which provides a hopper 94 between the opposed sidewalls 10 and 12, the conveyor buckets 50 which are at the lower portion of the apparatus, and the retaining wall 14 between the opposed sidewalls. At its lower end the retaining wall 14 is angled inwardly toward the center of the apparatus to deflect the bobbins 90 toward the center of the hopper 94. Bobbins 90 are fed into the hopper 94 responsive to demand of the apparatus for bobbins and this demand is determined by the weight of the bobbins in the hopper. Weight-sensing apparatus includes the pivoted section of the wheel track 80 and arm 82 and their supporting spring 88 at one end, and a pair of valves including a first valve 96 secured in any suitable manner as to the base 18 for sensing when the track 80 has been depressed sufficiently to indicate an adequate weight of bobbins 90 in the hopper 94 and then providing a signal stopping further delivery of bobbins to the hopper, and a second valve 98 (FIG. 2) secured to the lower end of the fixed wheel track 60 for engaging the upper end of the pivoted track 80 and providing a signal to initiate delivery of bobbins 90 to the hopper 94 when the weight of the bobbins in the hopper is depleted sufficiently so that the spring 88 raises the end of the pivoted track 80 to actuate the valve 98.

As the conveyor chains move the buckets 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow 21, the lower buckets 50 move along the bobbins 90 in the hopper 94 and the bobbins drop into the buckets. From the hopper 94 the bobbins are conveyed upwardly along the straight and adjustable portion of the path, defined by the fixed chain track 32 and the adjustable wheel track 66, with their longitudinal axes oriented and generally parallel to each other and, as illustrated, with their axes inclined slightly (about 15) to the path of the buckets. At the top of this straight portion of the wheel track 66, the fixed wheel track 62 curves slightly outwardly and then inwardly across the top of the apparatus so that the bobbins 90 are dumped from the buckets and are deposited one at a time in a chute 102 (FIG. 1) leading to a suitable end orienting apparatus 104 fixedly secured to the sidewall 10 and extending partially through an opening 106 therein with a discharge passageway 108 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the end orientor outside of the sidewall 10 and through which the bobbins 90 are delivered with a larger diameter end 110 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the bobbin core 112 downwardly. The motor 38 is preferably operated intermittently to deliver only one bobbin to the end orientor 104 responsive to demand of the end orientor for a bobbin.

Each bucket 50 will convey only one bobbin 90 at a time to the chute 102. It should be understood that the bobbins 90 deposited in randomly jumbled condition in the hopper 94 are all similar to each other but may vary in diameter within a particular range depending on whether the bobbin is full of yarn, partially full of yarn or is wholly empty of yarn so that only the bobbin core 110 is carried in the bucket. By way of example, one such range may include bobbin cores 112 having a 1% inch diameter at the larger end 110 and a 1 inch diameter at the opposite smaller end 114 with a body of yarn 116 on a full bobbin having a diameter of 3 inches. Another range may include l 16 inch and Via-inch core diameters at opposite ends and a full bobbin diameter of 2 inches. Full bobbins in different batches may taper or be cylindrical or arched throughout the main portion of the body of yarn.

Such particular ranges of bobbin diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin are handled by the apparatus with only one bobbin at a time being delivered to the chute 102. This is accomplished by adjusting about the pivots 52, the inclination of the buckets 50 along the straight upwardly moving portion of the path and by the bucket configuration fully described in the previously noted U.S. application Ser. No. 842,948. Briefly, when the buckets are along the upwardly extending substantially straight portion of their path which includes the adjustable wheel track 66, have a bottom supporting surface 120 which is convexly upwardly arched so that the center of gravity of the maximum diameter bobbin 90 within the range is directly above a portion of the supporting surface which is upwardly inclined from an upper surface 124. The surface 124 extends inwardly and upwardly from the supporting surface 120 for limiting outward rolling movement of a bobbin along the surface 120 and is inclined over the convex supporting surface 120 in such a manner that a core 112, which is the smallest diameter bobbin within any particular range, will be outwardly overcenter on a lower bobbin 90 and cannot remain atop the lower bobbin (even if it is another core) but falls therefrom back into the hopper 94 when the bucket is along the upwardly extending substantially straight portion of its path of travel. This straight upwardly moving portion of the path permits adequate time for the bobbins 90 to adjust in the buckets 50 and for a second bobbin 90 to fall from the bucket before the bobbins reach the chute 102 at the upper portion of the apparatus. By adjusting the adjustable wheel track 66 (FIG. 1) the inclination of the buckets 50 on the straight portion of their upward path of travel may be varied so that the apex of the convex supporting surface changes to accommodate larger or smaller maximum diameter bobbins and the relative disposition of the upper wall 124 also changes to prevent a bobbin stacking on another bobbin.

Each of the buckets 50 has a lower inner edge in the form of a return portion 134 which overlies the adjacent trailing bucket 50 to prevent sharp edges engaging the bobbins 90.

Should a bobbin 90' in the hopper 94 have its longitudinal axis aligned with the path of travel of the buckets 50 or, stated differently, have its axis parallel to the conveyor chains 20, it would extend across a plurality of adjacent buckets, and could block entry of other bobbins into the buckets which, as previously noted, can only receive bobbins having their axes generally transverse to the path of the buckets. In order to deflect such parallel oriented bobbins into a position with their axes transverse to the path of travel of the buckets, and in order to increase agitation of the bobbins in the hopper 94 so that they will more readily drop into the buckets 50, the inner edge 134 of each bucket 50 is caused to move inwardly toward the center portion of the hopper to move such a parallel oriented bobbin to a position in which it falls inwardly toward the center of the hopper. As may best be seen in FIG. 5, the lower portion 80 of the wheel track 58 has a portion 136 abruptly offset from a smoothly curved portion 138 of the track at the bottom of the hopper. Thus, as the wheel 56 of a bucket 50 moves onto the offset portion 136 of the wheel track, the bucket 50 swings about its pivots 52 to move its edge 134 transversely of the general upward path of movement of the buckets so as to move the lower end ofthe bobbin into position for firm engagement by the bottom wall 118 of a bucket 50 to assure movement of the bobbin 90' with the buckets until the bobbin falls back into the hopper. Otherwise, a bobbin such as 90' may remain stationary with the buckets sliding on the bobbin, or the bobbin may repeatedly be carried part way up the curved path of the buckets and then slide downwardly. The edge 134 of the bottom wall 118 is inclined at an angle of about 15 to the path of movement of the buckets to deflect parallel oriented bobbins somewhat sideways or transversely across the hopper so that these bobbins will fall in other than their parallel alignment with the path of travel of the buckets.

Strands of yarn, as 140, may extend from the bobbins 90 in the buckets 50 and may interfere with proper operation of the apparatus, could become snagged on some part of the apparatus and unwind from the body of yarn on the bobbin, or such strands could become entangled with other strands and possibly cause one or more bobbins to be pulled out of the buckets. Therefore, means is provided for severing such strands 140 as the bobbins are being conveyed upwardly past the wheel track offset portion 136 with the bucket wheels 56 in a curved portion 141 of the wheel track which maintain the buckets 50 at a substantially constant inclination about pivots 52. As the lower edge 134 of a bucket is pivoted inwardly toward the center of the hopper the bobbin is securely nested in the bucket as it moves along the curved track portion 141 and the strand 140 is moved slightly away from lower buckets. A finger 142 (FIG. 4) extends across the lower wall 118 of the bucket 50 and then above the edge 134 of the bucket and is caused to move from right to left (FIG. 4) for engaging and moving any strands 140 extending across the edge 134 to the left-hand side of the bucket. As each bucket 50 continues to ascend, its finger moves the strand or strands into a cutter 144, here illustrated as a conventional reciprocating shear driven by a rotating shaft 146, whereupon the strands are severed. The illustrated shear is fixedly mounted on the sidewall and has its rotating drive shaft 146 extending through the sidewall and carrying a sprocket (not visible) which receives a chain 148 engaged with another sprocket (not visible) formed as part of a cluster with sprocket 34.

Each finger 142 is fixedly secured to a slide received within a generally C-shaped track 152 secured across the upper wall of the associate bucket 50 in any suitable manner such as by adhesive or by fasteners (not shown). These tracks extend outside of the one end of the buckets 50 (FIG. 4), with the slide 150 on the outwardly extending portion of the track 152 in their starting position to avoid interference of the fingers with the bobbins 90 in the hopper 94. A cam follower wheel 154 extends outwardly from each of the slides 150 in position to engage a cam rod 156 (FIGS. 3 and 5) suitably fixedly mounted on the sidewalls 10 and the base 18, to cause each finger 142 to move across its bucket edge 134. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cutter 144 is positioned to pass through a pocket 160 (FIG. 4) at the left end of each bucket 50. These pockets 160 are covered by an inner sidewall 162 secured to the sidewall 10 to prevent bobbins 90 from overlying the pockets. As each bucket 50 passes the cutter 144, the lower portion of the cutter passes through the pocket 160 and a notch 164 (FIG. 4) in the wall of the bucket. As a bucket 50 enters its descending path (FIG. 2) the cam follower wheel 154 engages a return cam 166 having an upper end suitably fixedly mounted on the sidewall 10 and a lower end suitably fixedly mounted on the base 18, to cam the fingers 142 back to their starting point.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a cutter assembly, in which reference numerals primed refer to similar elements in the previous embodiment. The bucket 50' is shown as if in the lowest position illustrated in FIG. 4. A C-shaped slide track 170 is suitably secured to the lower wall of each bucket 50'. A scissor-type cutter 172 has a slide body 174 mounted in the track 170. A cutting blade 176 is fixed on the body 174 and cooperates with a cutting blade I78 pivoted about a pin 180 on the slide body 174 and fixed to an actuating cam 182 for operating the cutter. When the cutter is at the right-hand end of its track 170 it is in the position shown in solid lines with the cutting edges 176 and 178 open and a deflector 184 in position for engaging a strand 140' extending over the edge 134' of the bucket. An outwardly extending arm 186 of the slide body 174 carries a cam follower wheel 188 which engages the previously described cam 156 after the lower edge 134 of the bucket has been pivoted inwardly of the path of travel of the buckets. Thus, the guide 184 moves the strand extending over the edge 134' to the left whereupon the cutter cam 182 engages a lug 190 fixed to the track and causes the movable cutting blade 178 to pivot across the fixed blade 176 and cut the strand 140. As the bucket 50 moves along its descending path, as shown in FIG. 2, the cam follower wheel 188 engages the return cai'n 166 and the cutter assembly 172 is moved onto the track portion to the right of the bucket with the cutter cam 182 engaging another lug 192 fixed to the track 170 for moving the cutter blade 178 to open position ready to repeat the cycle. I

What is claimed is:

1. Bobbin-handling apparatus comprising, carriers for receiving bobbins, means mounting said carriers for movement along a path having an upwardly extending portion, means for advancing said carriers along said path, and means for deflecting a bobbin from an orientation in which the bobbin is adjacent said carriers and extends across a plurality of said carriers, said deflecting means including means for mov ing said carriers, when along said portion of said path, in a direction transverse to the general direction of movement of the carriers along said portion of said path.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I in whlch the last said bobbin has a longitudinal axis, and when in said orientation said longitudinal axis extends generally in the direction of movement of the carriers along the adjacent portion of said path.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim I in which each of said carriers has an edge portion inclined across said path, and said moving means moves the inclined portion against the last said bobbin.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said mounting means mounts said carriers for pivotal movement transversely of said path, and said moving means comprises means for pivoting said carriers about said axes.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said mounting means comprises track means receiving a portion of said carriers and said track means conforming generally to the direction of movement of said carriers along said path, and said moving means includes a limited portion of said track means deviating from the general direction of said path to so pivot each carrier as it is received by said limited portion of said track means. 

1. Bobbin-handling apparatus comprising, carriers for receiving bobbins, means mounting said carriers for movement along a path having an upwardly extending portion, means for advancing said carriers along said path, and means for deflecting a bobbin from an orientation in which the bobbin is adjacent said carriers and extends across a plurality of said carriers, said deflecting means including means for moving said carriers, when along said portion of said path, in a direction transverse to the general direction of movement of the carriers along said portion of said path.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the last said bobbin has a longitudInal axis, and when in said orientation said longitudinal axis extends generally in the direction of movement of the carriers along the adjacent portion of said path.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said carriers has an edge portion inclined across said path, and said moving means moves the inclined portion against the last said bobbin.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said mounting means mounts said carriers for pivotal movement transversely of said path, and said moving means comprises means for pivoting said carriers about said axes.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said mounting means comprises track means receiving a portion of said carriers and said track means conforming generally to the direction of movement of said carriers along said path, and said moving means includes a limited portion of said track means deviating from the general direction of said path to so pivot each carrier as it is received by said limited portion of said track means. 